Pacquiao joins Miss Universe panel of judges

Boxing icon Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao will join a diverse group of international celebrities who will sit as judges during the 63rd Miss Universe coronation night to be held in Doral, Miami, Florida on January 25 (morning of January 26 in Manila).

The Philippines’ Miss Universe candidate, Mary Jean Lastimosa 27, of North Cotabato, said she believes that Pacquiao will be a fair and unbiased judge.

A third Filipino, 2013 Miss Universe third runner-up Ariella Arida will also make an appearance during the pageant as backstage host of the “on the Scene’ segment of the Miss Universe web site.

The Miss Universe Organization’s announcement ended speculations that Pacquiao, the first and only eight–division world boxing champion, would join the panel of judges of the most prestigious beauty contest.

The Miss Universe pageant is the second most watched event on television, second only to the FIFA soccer World Cup.